Zipper chain machine

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE COMBINING IN ONE OPERATION THE FORMING OF ZIPPER CHAIN FROM FLAT WIRE STOCK, THE SIZING OF THE ZIPPER ELEMENTS, AND THE BRUSHING AND POLISHING OF THE SURFACES OF THE ELEMENTS. THE FORMING MACHINE INCLUDES AN INTERPOSING DEVICE FOR ALLOWING THE PASSING OF ZIPPER TAPE THROUGH THE APPARATUS WITHOUT HAVING CHAIN ELEMENTS SECURED THERETO. THE SIZING SECTION CRIMPS THE WORKING SURFACES OF THE ELEMENTS SO THAT THEY ARE UNIFORM IN SIZE AND THE BRUSHING SECTION SEQUENTIALLY ROTATES THE SIPPER UNDER CONTRA-ROTATING BRUSHES SO THAT ALL THE EXPOSED SURFACES RECEIVE A FINISHING.

June 29, 1971 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 10, 1967 June 29,- 1971 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 16 SheetsSheet 2 Original Filed May 10, 1967 June 29, 1971 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed May 10, 1967 June 29, 1971 5. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE l6 Sheets-Sheet &

Original Filed May 10,, 1967 June 29, 1971 a. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE l6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 10, 1967 FIG. 6

16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed May 10, 1967 June 29, 197!- G. PERRELLA 3,588,936

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Original Filed May 10, 1967 16 SheetsSheet 7 June 29, 1971 G. PERRELLAl 3,583,935

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Original Filed May 10, 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 29,1971 G. PERRELLA 3,588,935

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Original Filed May 10, 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. l0

June 29, 1971 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet l0 Griginal Filed May 10, 1967 mmm June 29, 1971 a. PERRELLA 3,588,986

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Original Filed May 10, 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE June 29, 197

16 Sheets-Sheet 12 Original Filed May 10, 1967 June 29, 1 971 G. PERRELLA 3,538,936

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Original Filed May 10, 19s? l6 Sheets-Sheet w June 29, 1971 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Original Filed May 10, 1967 FIG. I40

FIG. l4b

FIG. I40

June 2, 19171 G. PERRELLA l6 Sheets-Sheet E5 16 Sheets-Sheet n6 June 29, 1971 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Original Filed May 10, 1967 United States Patent 3,588,986 ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Guido Perrella, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Dynacast International Limited, Glasgow, Scotland Original application May 10, 1967, Ser. No. 637,518, now Patent No. 3,482,301, dated Dec. 9, 1969. Divided and this application July 7, 1969, Ser. No. 858,223 Claims priority, applicatigrsimCanada, June 14, 1966, 6 0

int. c1. A2111 37/06 US. Cl. 29-2075 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This is a division of application Ser. No. 637,518, filed May 10, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,482,301.

This invention relates to machines for forming separable fasteners or zipper chains from fiat wire and in particular to a machine which includes apparatus for per forming all the operations necessary to provide a finished product, i.e. a formed, sized and polished zipper chain.

In Canadian Patent No. 661,442 of Apr. 6, 1963 there is provided a zipper machine that was substantially simplified in nature compared to those at that time known to the trade. Notwithstanding the fact that the fastener element of each zipper chain is extremely small in nature, the older forming machines were extremely large in size and relatively bulky with the result that substantial floor area was taken up in zipper making factories. The invention of the above-mentioned Canadian patent provided substantial improvement of such machines in producing a device that was quite small and extremely fast in production. The wire and tape feeds to the machine were automatic and the device produced a zipper chain in a high footage to time ratio. However, after the chain was made, ie the tape and elements were secured together, the chain had to be sized and brushed or polished in separate operations.

The present invention provides, in one aspect, a zipper chain making device that is a further improvement over that of the above-mentioned patent. Generally speaking, there are improvements to the tape pressure and drive systems so that tension thereon is obtained more simply and a better brake system is now incorporated that is much more effective than that of the above-mentioned patent. A further improvement is the means for gapping the elements on the tape whereby a production run of 6 Zippers mixed with 9" or 12" zippers can easily and readily be accomplished.

A further improvement to the art in general is the bringing together in one apparatus all the mechanism necessary for a complete zipper operation. For example, the device presently to be described performs the following operations: (a) the first section receives tape and wire from supply sources and forms the zipper chain by punching the elements from the flat wire and applying them to the tape either in continuous or gapped or spaced operation; (b) the apparatus includes a device for automatically chamfering and sizing each element on the chain and for carrying out this operation either on continuous zipper or spaced zipper chain; (c) the apparatus includes means for brushing and cleaning or polishing each external face of the zipper after it leaves the chamfering section; (d) the apparatus provides means for winding the finished, polished zipper onto spools. The apparatus may be used as a complete zipper manufacturing centre or it can be broken up into its separate sections whereby an operator who is now provided a zipper making section need only acquire the chamfering and brushing mechanism, etc., which are connectable one to another.

According to one aspect, therefore, the present invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing zipper chain comprising a device for receiving wire and tape therein and including means for forming chain elements from said wire and fastening the latter onto said tape; a pair of cooperating rotatable members adapted to receive said zipper chain therebetween for sizing and chamfering each element of said chain; means for brushing each exposed side surface of said chain elements; and means for spool winding the finished zipper chain for storage and shipping.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for forming zipper chain comprising a frame; means for feeding wire and tape into said frame; a die set and ram guide mounted for cooperative operation in said frame; an eccentric driving shaft for actuating said ram with respect to said die; means interconnecting the driving shaft with the wire and tape feeding means to apply incremental movement thereto; and means for intermittently interrupting the application of wire onto said tape during continuous running of the latter.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete zipper forming apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the upper section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating in partial phantom line the drive mechanism for the various devices of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the zipper chain making device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the gapping device taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section along lines 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a further side elevation of the zipper making device, partly sectioned to show the wire feed press and backward return mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along lines 88 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the die set assembly;

FIG. 10 is a top elevation view of the die assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the sizing and chamfering unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the chamfering unit shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top or plan view of the brushing unit showing the drive motor and bell crank mechanism as well as the end pulley adjacent the winding spool apparatus as seen in side elevation in FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a further top view of the brushing mechanism shown in FIG. 13 but with the motor and protective cover removed;

FIGS. 14a, 14b and are sections along lines aa, b-b, and c-c of FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a section taken along the lines 1515 of FIG. 14 and disclosing the structural features of one of the brushing units; and

FIG. 16 is an end elevation of the spool and its associated winding mechanism shown in side elevation in FIG. 2.

3 GENERAL ASSEMBLY Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus comprises, in its integral unit, a cabinet 1 having a control panel 2, a zipper chain manufacturing device 3; a sizing and chamfering device 4; a brushing and polishing device 5 and spool winding mechanism 6. There is also included a supply roll 7 for the chain wire and a similar supply for tape can be provided adjacent the upper end of the device so that the tape may be led into the zipper chain making device 3 as shown. The cabinet 1 also includes a remote control panel '8 and a blower 9 for cooling the zipper making device 3 and for collecting dust from the brushing mechanism 5.

As previously mentioned, the brushing device 5, chamfering device 4 or zipper making device 3 can also be used independently of one another but in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, they will be described as being interrelated to provide a full production unit.

The wire 10 is drawn from a supply source 7 upwardly through a guide tube 12 and into the zipper making device 3 by way of a wire guide assembly 14 (FIG. 7). Simultaneously, a tape 16 is fed from a supply source (not shown) into the zipper making device 3 by way of a tape guide 18, shown in FIG. 3. Device 3 punches the chain elements from the wire and applies them onto the bead of the tape and the tape leaves the device 3 through a tape pressure cartridge 20, shown in FIG. 4.

The chain then progresses over a guide arm 22 into the confines of the sizing and chamfering device 4 and subsequently travels around guides 24 and 26 into the brushing device 5 and is finally wound onto the spool 6 as a finished product.

In view of the tension that may be applied to both the wire before it enters the chain making device 3 and also to the chain after it leaves the latter and progresses through the chamfering and brushing elements, means are provided to stop the machine at various stages if tension builds up to a dangerous level. It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the wire guide tube 12 is secured to an arm 28 that is pivotally mounted to the apparatus cabinet at 30. The end of this arm, adjacent the pivot 30, terminates adjacent a limit switch 32 having an actuating arm 34. If, for example, the supply spool 7 for the wire should become locked or in any way encounter suflicient friction to resist the feeding draw of the device 3, tension will be applied to the wire 10 as it passes through its guide tube 12 and, in so doing, will draw the arm 28' downwardly until such time as the upper end of the arm 28 throws the actuating arm 34 of the limit switch 32 to shut off the machine. Spring 13 applies necessary tension to tube 12 as shown.

Arm 22 is connected to a block 35 pivotally mounted at 36. Also connected to the block 35 is one end of a rod 38 which is pivotally connected at its other end to an arm 40, which in turn is pivotally mounted to the cabinet as at 42. Arm 40 is slotted as at 44 to receive one end of an actuating arm 46 on a limit switch 48. It will be appreciated that, if the tension on the chain leaving the machine 3 reaches such a degree that the arm 22 is bent downwardly beyond the position shown at 22a in phantom line, the arm 38 and arm 40 will be pivoted to such a degree that the limit switch 48 will be actuated by its arm 46 and the machine will be stopped. Limit switch 48 and the arms 38 and 22 deal with the tension applied to the chain between the chain making apparatus 3 and the chamfering device 4.

A still further limit switch mechanism is provided between the chamfering device 4 and the brushing mechanism 5. It will be seen that chain guides 24 and 26 below the chamfering mechanism 4 are mounted on a horizontally disposed rod 50 which is mounted for pivotal movement at 52. A limit switch 54 is provided with an actuator 56 having an arm 58 which is adapted to be engaged by the horizontal rod 50. If tension on the chain between the chamfering section 4 and brushing section 5 increases or decreases beyond desired or acceptable degrees, the tension or lack thereof will be transferred to the horizontal arm by way of the guides 24 and 26 which in turn will actuate the limit switch 54 through the actuator 56 to stop the machine.

The above described arms are not only responsive to tension in the wire and zipper supporting roles in which they shut off the apparatus by limit switches but these arms are interconnected with the drive mechanism of the complete apparatus so as to alter the drive ratio between one unit and another to take up or compensate for slack or tension between these units. The drive means for the apparatus comprises an electric motor 62 as shown in FIG. 2. This motor drives the main shaft of the zipper making machine 3 by means of a timing belt 64. It will be noted that this drive is constant. Additionally, motor 62 is interconnected with and drives a gear box 66 by means of a variable ratio belt 68 and an idler pulley 70.

Idler pulley 70 is rotatably mounted on the terminal end of an extension bar 72 secured by bolts 74 to one end of the arm 40 just beyond the pivot point 42 of that arm. It will appear evident from FIG. 2 that idler pulley 70 maintains the variable ratio belt 68 in proper tension between the pulley 65 on motor 62 and the corresponding pulley on gear box 66. Furthermore, this tension is maintained by spring means 76 connected to the upper end of the cabinet at one of its ends and, at its other end, to one of a number of holes 80 in the bar 72.

Gear box 66 has two output pulleys, pulley '82 (as shown in the form of a sprocket) which rotates a driven sprocket 84 of the chamfering and sizing mechanism via a roller chain 86; and a second pulley 88 which rotates a lay shaft 90 by means of a pulley 92 thereon by way of a second variable ratio belt 94 and an associated tensioning idler pulley 96. In similarity to the idler pulley 70 and its association with arm 40, idler pulley 96 is mounted for rotation on an extension bar 98 secured to and extendng from the inner end of the pivot mounting rod 52. Spring means 100 applies desired tension onto the belt 94 by its connection at one end between the cabinet and, at its other end, with the bar 98, as shown. The pivot mount 52 and the lay shaft 90 are secured to a plate member 102 by means of bearing caps 104.

A pulley 93, by means of 'a further variable ratio belt 106, drives a draw pulley 108 of the brushing mechanism 5, specifically that pulley at the outer or finished end of that mechanism. Also mounted on the lay shaft 90 is a third pulley 110 which serves to drive a gear box 112 through a further pulley 114. As shown in FIG. 2, gear box 112 is the drive mechanism for the wind-up spool 6 and rotation of the latter is carried out through a spring belt 116.

The above described variable ratio drives together with their tensioning arms are provided to take up or let out any slack in the wire or zipper chain whilst it is travelling between the chain making device 3, chamfering section 4, brushing section 5, or winding section 6. For example, if, for some reason, the chain C after leaving the chain making device 3 applies a sutficient tension to the arm 22 to pull it downwardly towards the position 22a so that the arm 40 pivots about its point 42, as previously described, the extension 72 of this arm will also be pivoted downwardly toward position P and in so doing will apply a specified amount of slack to the belt 68 which, in turn, will alter the gear ratio of gear box 66 and the revolutions per minute of its pulley or sprocket 82 thereby, through the chain 86 slowing the sprocket 84 of the chamfering section 4. This prevents breakage of the zipper chain and the chamfering section 4 will be in concert with the making machine 3 insofar as speed is concerned. Of course, if the tension is great enough, the limit switch 48 will "be thrown and the machine will be stopped. Likewise, any change to the ratio of gear box 66 by the variable ratio belt 68 through the action of the pivotal idler pulley 70 will also be applied to the draw pulley 108 of the brushing mechanism through the intermediary of the pulley -88, belt 94, idler pulley 96, lay shaft pulley 92 and belt 106. This is also carried one step further in changing the ratio of the lay shaft 90 and the gear box 112 driving the winding sprocket or spool 6. In effect, any change in the tension at the forward end of the machine will be compensated for throughout the complete drive mechanism when that tension is effected by the chain between the making machine 3 and the chamfering section 4.

Similar control or ratio change is also applicable between the chamfering section 4 and the brushing section 5 by means of the swinging or pivoting action of extension arm 98 changing the ratio of belt 94 through pivotal movement of the pulley 96, arm 98 being originally swung through movement of the horizontal arm 50 in response to tension on the guides 24 and 26 by chain leaving the chamfering section 4. Here again, if the tension is sufficiently strong enough, the limit switch 54 will be thrown and the machine will be stopped.

The zipper making device 3 is designed for extremely high speed (in the region of 6,000 rpm.) and in order to maintain the mechanism as cool as possible, a blower 9 conveys cool air onto the under side of the machine 3 which is ribbed (not shown) to take advantage of the best means of conveying this cooling air to the interior of the device.

It will also be noted from FIG. 1 that a vacuum system is connected to the brushing assembly 5 and consists of a hose 11 which extends from the brushing assembly down into the cabinet where it is connected to suitable receiving means which will be explained further in this disclosure. The vacuum system removes all the cuttings and fine particles from the area of the brushes and deposits them into a storing receptacle.

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE The device for forming the zipper chain from the tape and the wire is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. Referring firstly to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the device 3 includes a body 118 which carries three main shafts; a wire feed shaft 120 for drawing the wire 10 from its source of supply into the device; a tape feed shaft 122 for drawing the tape from its supply source into the device 3; and the main drive shaft 124 that is driven by the motor 62 and belt 64 (FIG. 2) and which, in turn, drives the wire feed shaft 120 and tape feed shaft 122 and which also actuates the die members as will subsequently be described.

The main drive shaft 124 includes three eccentrics for actuating the other shafts and the die mechanism. As shown in FIG. 4, shaft 124 is cradled in the body 118 by means of roller bearing mountings 126 and 128. Intermediate these roller bearing mountings is the sleeve 130 which, as will later be described, actuates the die mechanism. On the outer end of the shaft 124 a further eccentric 132 drives a wire feed pawl 134 and a third eccentric 136 drives a tape feed pawl 138.

The main or eccentric shaft 124 receives its drive from belt 64 by means of a pulley 140 secured to one end of the shaft 124 with a key 142 and set screw 144. It will be seen from FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 that back lash or rearward turning of the shaft 124 is effectively prevented by a brake system generally indicated at 146. A running plate 148 and a thrust cover 150 are concentrically mounted on the shaft 124 and are separated by spacer 152 and are secured to the body 118 by cap screws 154. Also concentrically mounted on the shaft 124 is a ratchet wheel 156 (FIG. 7) which is prevented from turning in a reverse direction by a pawl 158 secured to the body by a dowel pin 160 and maintained in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring 162.

Ratchet wheel 156 is adapted to rotate with the pulley 140 and shaft 124 and, to this end, it is frictionally engaged by the pulley 140 through the intermediary of a friction spacer 164 and a pair of Belleville springs 166. Pressure on the plate or ratchet wheel is applied through the Belleville washers 166 by means of a collar clamp 168 and a cap screw 170 which applies an axial pressure on the shaft 124 when it is tightened down. In order for the ratchet wheel 156 to remain free running, it is mounted for rotation between the running plate 148 and thrust cover 150 by means of roller bearings 172 as shown in FIG. 4. The above described brake system provides a substantial improvement over that of the previous Pat. 661,442 as may be seen from a review of FIG. 7 of that patent.

Another improvement of Pat. 661,442 that is worthy of note is the type of tape feed or drive. In the present proposal, it will be seen that the tape drive is external of the body 118, specifically on an extension of the body 118a. In the above mentioned patent, the tape drive was internal of the frame machine which made it extremely difiicult to apply regular maintenance or break-down service. Moreover, the means of applying pressure to the tape in Pat. 661,442 (FIG. 5) was complicated and expensive, for example in that the arm 73 pivoted about a shaft 74 in response to pressure applied on the other end of the arm 73.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the tape feed shaft 122 is mounted for rotation in the body extension 118a by roller bearings 174 and 176. The inner or passage end of shaft 122 is knurled at 178 to apply a drawing pressure onto the tape T, as shown, and pressure is applied to the tape T by means of a pressure cartridge 180 mounted in a housing 182 and surrounded by a coil spring 184. The outer end of the cartridge 180 is connected to a cammed handle 186 whereby tension can be applied or relieved. This cartridge structure is shown in side view in FIG. 7.

The wire feed shaft 120 is mounted for rotation in the body 118 by roller bearings 188 which may be lubricated from nipples 190 as shown in FIG. 4. A desired torque resistance must also be built into the wire feed shaft to prevent a rotation faster than is required. Therefore, the shaft 120 is provided with a two-plate clutch 192 mounted between a flange 194 of the casting of the main shaft and the body 118. Pressure on the clutch is effected by the other end of the shaft 120 and specifically by a pressure nut 196 which is threadably attached to the shaft 120 as at 198. The shoulder of the pressure nut 196 has an opposing surface in a pressure washer 200 that is positioned in a countersunk region of the body 118 and intermediate the surfaces of the washer 200 and the shoulder 196 are a plurality of pressurized Belleville washers 202. It will be appreciated that adjustment of the pressure nut 196 will draw the shaft inwardly by applying pressure through the Belleville washers and therefore increasing the amount of torque necessary to rotate the shaft 120. This pressure is transferred to the outer end or driven end of the shaft 120 by means of a pressure plug 204 which acts against bearings 206 through spherical washers 208 secured in place by a cap screw 210. It will be noted that the driven end of shaft 120 is formed with a circumferential groove 212, the purpose of which will be subsequently described.

Turning now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the drive end of the wire feed shaft 120 which includes the circumferential slot 212, is also provided with a plurality of teeth 214 whereby this shaft may be incrementally rotated through the reciprocal action of a driving blade 216 on one end of the wire feed pawl 134 that is driven by the eccentric 132 on the drive shaft 124. As previously mentioned, this driving force of the pawl 134 must overcome the tension applied to the shaft 120 by the Belleville springs 202 as well as by further spring means 218 as shown.

The tape feed pawl 138 that is driven by eccentric 136 is also provided with a blade 220 for incrementally rotating the tape feed shaft 122 by means of teeth 224 circumferentially placed on the protruding end thereof. Back lash or reversal of the shaft 122 is prevented by the blade 226 of a back feed pawl 228 mounted on the body 118a. Pawl 228 and pawl 134 are interconnected by spring means 230.

The zipper chain may be manufactured in one continuous length or it may be desirable to manufacture the chain in lengths of say 6 inches with a 2 or 3 inch gap between each chain. The tape, of course, would remain continuous. The present apparatus provides a gapping mechanism indicated generally at 232 in FIG. 3 and shown generally in FIG. 1 and in sectional detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. The gapping device comprises front and rear body portions 234 and 236, respectively, secured together by cap screws 238 and this unified body is then secured to the body 118 of the zipper making machine 3 by means of further cap screws 240.

Briefly, the gapping device carries a blade member 242 which cooperates with and rides in the slot 212 of the wire feed shaft 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the blade 242 is wound upon a spool 244 from whence it is fed into the gapping device 232. As shown in FIG. 5, the blade rides intermediate the front and rear bodies 234, 236 of the gapping device and rides on a key 246 extending the length of the guide. The blade is maintained in engagement with the key by a plurality of fingers 248 spaced throughout the length of the guide and these fingers are resiliently mounted on the ends of coil springs 250, as shown. Moreover, it will be seen from FIG. 6 that a plurality of set screws 252 disposed intermediate each spring and finger 248 serves to press a ball member 254 against the side of the blade by means of a spring 256. The guide 232 is provided with a shaft 258 for operating the fingers 248 and this is accomplished by the inner ends of each spring 250 being disposed in slots 260 in the shaft as shown in FIG. 5. The outer terminal end of the shaft 258 is provided with a handle 262 connected to a collar 264 and the lower end of the collar is provided with a recess 266 adapted to receive therein the head 268 of a bolt 270, the bolt being resiliently pressed into engagement with the collar by means of a coil spring 272.

It will be apparent that, by swinging the handle 262 in an arc, the shaft 258, springs 250 and fingers 248 will be rotated so as to free the blade 242.

It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the blade 242 is provided with a low or normal elevation or height 274 and a raised portion 27 6. It will also be noted that the normal portion 274 corresponds in its height with the depth of the slot 212 in the wire feed 120 so that, during reciprocal action of the wire feed pawl 134 and the blade 216 thereof, the guide will be moved along one notch or tooth as is the notches on the driven end of the feed shaft 120. However, if a spacing is required between the chain elements of the zipper, for example, 6" zippers, then a raised portion 276 will be inserted in the blade at 6" intervals and the length of the raised portion 276 will correspond with the distance between one zipper and the next, say 2" or 3". As this portion 276 is engaged by the blade 216 of the pawl 234, blade 216 is then raised from engagement with the teeth 214 on the Wire feed shaft. This therefore prevents rotation of the latter and wire is no longer fed into the device although the tape feed is constant through the action of the pawl 138 and its blade on the tape feed shaft 122. After the raised portion 276 of the blade is fed through the guide and the guide outlet 242a, and the height of the blade returns to the normal portion 274, then the blade 216 will again engage the teeth 214 to institute further rotation of the wire feed shaft 120.

TOOL AND DIE SET In FIG. 3, it will be seen that the body 118 of the chain making machine has secured to its upper surface a tool seat 178 and a die set clamp 280. The die set assembly is shown in detail in FIG. 9 in section and in FIG. 10 in plan view while the tool set may be seen in section in FIG. 7 of the drawings. As shown in FIG. 9, the die block 282 includes a bridge member 284 which extends downwardly into the confines of the device 3 as shown in pecked line in FIG. 3. This constitutes the inlet into the die block 282 of the chain wire which enters via a chain wire guide 286 shown in FIG. 7. At this point, it is controlled by a wire feed press 288 which in construction, is not unlike the tape pressure cartridge 180 shown in FIG. 5. The feed press 288 includes a pressurized wheel 290 cooperating with a knurled wheel 292. Tension may be applied or released through handle 294 which is cammed onto one end of a shaft 296 resiliently mounted by spring 298.

The tool seat assembly 178 includes an opening 300 by means of which a male tool may receive adjustment from a pin 302. The latter cooperates with a female punch positioned in the die set. The latter device is mounted together with a punch housing 304 which is adapted to slide in the die set guide 280 shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted in FIGS. 9 and 10 that one end of the punch housing 304 is engaged by the main eccentric on the drive shaft 124. Reciprocal action of the tool housing 304 is effected by the eccentric 130 and the housing is returned and kept into engagement with the eccentric through a pair of rods 306 and their associated spring 308.

Turning now to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the tape which is drawn into the machine via a passageway 310 receives an element of the chain punched from the wire in the die set. This is effected at location 312 shown in FIG. 3. The apparatus of FIG. 10 includes left and right cams 314 and 316 which have sloped ends 318. These sloped ends act on mating surfaces of left and right hand jaws. The cams are held in position by suitable cam clamps 322 and, as the punch housing 304 is reciprocated backwards and forwards, the sloped surfaces 318 and 320 cause the jaws 321 to move inwardly and outwardly thereby clamping the chain element onto the tape. When the tool housing 304 is reversed through the action of the springs and rods 308 and 306, the left and right hand jaws of the surfaces 320 are re-opened through the work of a U-shaped spring 324 shown in FIG. 9.

.As will be seen from FIGS. 3 and 7, a fiat, long leaf type spring 326 serves to return the knock-out in the die shoe (FIG. 7) and, as previously mentioned, this spring includes an aperture 330 through which the male member of the punch may be adjusted by pin 302. This is best shown in FIG. 7. It will also be noted from FIG. 10 that a pair of vacuum tubes 328 cooperate with the jaw members to draw away the chips formed when the element is punched from the IWlIC and clamped onto the tape bead. The relative position of the vacuum tube 328 is coaxial. Moreover, FIGS. 9 and 10 show the means of adjusting the cam members 314 and 316 which comprises a pair of set screws 331 that bear on sloped cooperating surfaces 332 of the outer end of the cam members 314 and 316. This provides easy access to the cams and their longitudinal adjustment in the die set.

As shown in FIG. 8, the die guide of FIG. 3 comprises a pair of plate members 334 mounted on guides 336 and held in position by cap screws 338 and Belleville washers 340. It will be appreciated that easy removal of the die block is effected by unscrewing the set screws 338 to loosen the clamps and collar plates 334 whereby the latter may be lifted away and the die set can be removed from the body 118. This provides a substantial improvement over the older system where the complete die block had to be dismantled.

SIZING AND CHAMFERING UNIT As shown in FIG. 1, the sizing and chamfering unit is disposed intermediate the chain making device 3 and the brushing section 5. It works the surfaces of the chain elements of the zipper to ensure a uniform thickness thereof and also to chamfer the exposed surfaces of these elements so as to remove some of the rougher edges before the chain enters the brushing section.

As shown in FIG. 11, the chamfering device 4 comprises a body 342 having a driving section 344 and a 

